See Matt Run: Concert at Mattei’s Tavern

I try to keep this as a space for my thoughts, my ongoings, my projects. A space away from social media algorithms. I try also not to just make this a running list of what I’ve been up to that week, although I’ll admit that is often what I’m on here about. October through December becomes a mixed bag of things. This is when work picks ups steam just in time for the holidays. I actually love the holidays. I love the hustle and the to-do of it all. I love how my small Los Angeles town goes a bit nuts over Halloween and goes all out with the decorations. I usually like to photograph that, so stay tuned…

A few weeks ago, I got called to do photograph an event at The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos. It is a historical hotel just north of Santa Barbara, originally built in 1886. The event ended up being a mix of things, but mainly featured a concert performed by Kate Hudson and her band. I wasn’t aware that Kate Hudson could sing or write music, but as is usually the case with these gigs, I love being able to be a part of something interesting and new.

While fun, the shoot day ended up being rather long and exhausting. I slept poorly the night before and was awakened by an earthquake. I had to hit the road very early to make the two-and-a-half hour drive, which was actually pleasant. I worked with a video team to capture several aspects of the day while an October heat wave kept up relentlessly that day. Much of the day revolved around Kate and when she’d arrive for soundcheck and then her performance.

Having grown up around the TV and film industries, I’ve met famous people and have been able to work with a few. From my experience, you never know what to actually expect. Celebrities are regular people with a lot of pressure on them, so it can be a mixed bag. I had been told that Kate was actually great, easygoing, and really fun to work with. I kept an open mind. When she did arrive and perform later that night, the process was easy and fun. I was able to get some really nice shots…in fact, a few of these shots were featured in this Harpers Bazaar article the next day.

By the way, Kate Hudson happens to be quite a great singer/songwriter. Her band was fantastic. I particularly liked her song “Glorious.”

After a very long day in the heat, I had to scramble to get the above shots to her for approval. This wasn’t exactly ideal, since I like to take time for such things. But again, Kate was really awesome to work with and made the extra effort worth it. I’m not someone who makes it a point to fawn over celebrities, but when someone exudes actual star qualities it makes you feel uplifted, like you want to keep doing better work. I hope to have some of those qualities myself.

A start to my busy season

Life has been pretty busy, in both good and bad ways, since I last posted.

Fire season continues to wreak havoc on the landscape here. Thankfully, our home has been spared from any imminent wildfire threat. Unfortunately, the Line Fire has begun to advance once again toward my childhood summer camp. Camp de Benneville Pines is incredible special to me. All I can do is keep watching the updated maps on the Watch Duty app. The fire is climbing up steep mountain terrain, which makes it near impossible to fight. I can only hope for the best.

On the lighter side of things, both photography and music have kept me busy over the last several weeks. I took part in a reunion concert for the high school theatre department in my hometown of Claremont. This was originally a small reunion concert for the class of ’74, but turned into a full-blown fundraiser for the current students of the theatre department at Claremont High School. This was also a memorial for Dr. Don Freuchte, who was a huge figure in creating the theatre department and had just recently passed.

I was really lucky back in high school. I had always had an interest in the arts, but I was all over the place as a kid. I had was too much excess energy, a need to fit in even though I was the quintessential outsider, and I was just an overall weird kid. It was in the theatre department where I found not only my voice, but I found a place to channel all that energy. And thanks to my teacher, Krista Carson-Elhai (Dr. Fruechte’s successor), I was given many chances to succeed. You couldn’t get me out of that building.

I’m dead center, dressed in a gold sailor suit, for the 42nd Street ballet. June, 1999.

It was a great time meeting and connecting to older CHS Theatre Alumni. I got to reunite with two of “co-stars” from way back when, Craig and Amanda. We three lead the cast of 42nd Street, a giant production with massive scenery, costumes, and we painstakingly learned the original Broadway tap choreography. It was a fun experience reliving that, and truly refreshing to slip back into a chemistry with my fellow performers as if no time had ever passed since we were last onstage together. The one downside is that these one-off concerts like this are over so soon.

Me, Carolina Garcia, Jefferey Deards, Amanda Coclough, Craig Coclough. My fellow theatre alumni, all grown up!

The very next weekend, I was able to perform once again with The Singers of Soul, a gospel, pop, and soul choir I’ve been a part of since 2019. Being able to sing with them is an incredible treat for me. Back in 2019, my friend Carolina (shown above) was creating a solo cabaret and had asked me to sing a duet with her. I was thrilled to say yes, and then she asked me to join a group number to close the show featuring a choir which ended up being The Singers of Soul. In that moment I was nothing short of blown away but the talent in one group, and I’ve been lucky to sing with them several times since.

In between singing, I’ve been jumping straight into my busy season as an event photographer, staring off with a marathon of clients including NBSO LA, and Segerstrom Center for the Arts. I have more in the pipeline. At the moment, I’m hoping the current heatwave in LA calms down along with these wildfires.